Should you visit The EDEN Project? - We were Shocked! - Cornwall Days Out 2024 An Honest Review
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- Have you heard of the Eden Project, Cornwall? It boasts the largest indoor greenhouse in the world called biomes. One simulates a rainforest and the other the Mediterranean. It was the brainchild of Tim Smit to take a sterile china clay pit and turn it into something full of life. It was built as a Millennium Project and opened in 2001.
We have regularly visited since it opened and watched it thrive and become our biggest tourist attraction in Cornwall. We have always been impressed by the magnificent biomes, a true architectural marvel, and been wow'd by the planting. The experience has always been a joy.
To our dismay, we have seen some negative reviews on Google and Trip Advisor about standards slipping. Is this true? We visited in June 2024 to see for ourselves. We hope you enjoy watching.
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We are Sarah and Andrew and we film around Cornwall and publish on UA-cam, usually weekly. Sometimes we stay in accommodation in Cornwall and upload our vlog. Sarah is fascinated by sea glass and likes to collect it so there may be the occasional sea glass video too. The channel is a hobby and we both have normal day jobs!
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It's a prime example of an idea of what we can build and what we can destroy over the years through commercialism. The care goes while the price rises....
Untidy and tired: I've never related to a place more 🤣
We went 22 years ago when Eden had just opened. Everyone there were gardeners.
if the gardeners have gone, weeds will grow.
We went 19 years ago. Our kidswere young, we were on a budget, £25 each for an adult, I didnt even check the kids price, I just figured it was priced for Londoners who get triple what us 'lesser mortals' do. There were even these hippy longhair guys in the car park directing parking, patronisingly telling us it was 'excellent value for money''. I wasnt big on bargain hunting online at the time, we were so disappointed by the entry price we left. That said, nowhere else in Cornwall was anywhere near that expensive.
The 1st thing that always happens is you get rid of the professionals and replace them with admin and managers. This changes the ethos of the place into one the board can control. It then becomes an investors and upper management paradise .
@@John-gr5txjudging by these comments it seems shareholders have stripped the place down. I wonder how many gardeners were replaced by agency staff who have no skills?
@@olivere5497 all of them oliver, All of them!
I have been to The garden of heligon, which is amazing and well maintained. Plus the Minack Theatre is fantastic place to visit.
Thank you for the update
I won’t bother going
The Eden Project, from the very beginning, was intended by its' main visionary, the self publicist, Tim Smit, like Heligan, to be a green-washed tourist clip-joint.
The first thing that he did after getting his claws into Heligan was to sell off the house for redevelopment as luxury accommodation ... THEN they started on the garden. They make a big thing of the gardeners who went off to war, many of them lying in Flanders fields, the poppies blowing between the crosses row on row. We are the Dead. Short days ago, we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now .... we lie .... in Flanders fields. Anyone would think that Tim Smit himself had lead men over the top on the Somme or at Passchendaele. This is the man who came up with a scheme to build a string of hotels on the Narrowcliff in Pukey-Newquay cutting off the sea views of the hotels on the other side of the road and removing one of Pukey-Newquay's more desirable amenities from public access.
The first priority at Eden before even the first sod was cut was to open a visitors' centre with some visionary diagrams and artist's impressions. There was one of those three-legged things that make the corners of the hexagons on display and a few bits of rock .... well, jolly good. There was a make-shift car park and they charged people to look down into the quarry, the creation of which had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with them. I could take people to more dramatic pits to look into for free. Expensive as they are, Lanhydrock, Trerice, and Castle Drogo are much better value. (My advice to visitors; If there are two of you, DO buy a joint membership to the National Trust. You will quickly pay for it in saved entry fees and parking charges to a few houses and, of course, parking in the National Trust seaside car parks is free with membership. On a visit to Trelissick in May, we had a singsong with the dear lady who plays the grand piano there from time to time.)
Compare the Eden Project prices to the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley in Surrey, in my view one of the most beautiful, enjoyable and IMMACULATE gardens running to hundreds of acres, that I have ever visited. I think my first visit was in 1964 with my Mum and Dad who were members. I have been back many times. If you are not a member, the charge for the opening period 10 a.m. - 6.p.m. or Sunset is £18.50 for an adult. Family (2 adults, two children) £44.40 and if you are in receipt of certain benefits (see the web site) entry for you and up to five people accompanying you (whether in receipt of benefits or not) is a pound per person.
Having seen a number of videos about Eden over the years exposing poor maintenance, I wouldn't go near Eden with a barge Pole.
.
Until watching this video, I had no idea that they had the brass neck to be charging £42.00 a person. A whole family can get into Wisley for just £2.40 more. Eden, it ain't.
Now trying to build a golf course in Lostwithiel that very few want and nobody needs as we have enough!!
I absolutely agree
My other half had dealings with him when tasked with designing the approach roads in the 1990s as a highway engineer with Cormac. A very revealing experience. My husband refused to take back-handers - enough said!
@@nicolaperren9493 Surely, his new place at Lostwithiel, was a golf course before he bought it
@@huporhaha1 It's always money... and they're always self-publicists
If you're paying full price, taking into account the price for food, ice cream etc; I'd say it's an absolute rip-off.
Agree, especially for what’s on offer! Sarah :)
Have you been to London zoo ?
We took the kids there twice last year and once this year on the same ticket so the price was fine for us. We took our own food. There were some minor negatives but overall we had a great time. The new playground was a real hit with the kids but it's a shame it had to be booked separately. It does make it less busy though.
@SiennaArtsandCrafts no, they'd keep me in 😂
No different than most places. We are not called a "rip off Britain" for no reason.
My wife & I visited the Eden Project in about 2005. It reminded me of a Groucho Marx quotation. "I have a great thirst for knowledge, but I hate to be educated". This is exactly how I felt. There was not an excess of weeds, but the planting outside was all in straight lines which we also found disappointing. Incidently, the Lost Gardens of Heligan just down the road was brilliant.
Tim schmidt of Eden was married to the woman that runs Heligan. They went their separate ways. Started with Heligan.
Having sat in a seven mile queue for about an hour we were so looking forward to visiting with my family a number of years ago . we were so shocked and so disappointed by massive commercialisation of the place, lack of ready support for those unable to walk the lengthy distance to get to the biomes from the car park all contributed to a very negative experience.I was hoping to see interesting plants but found everything covered in powdery mildew. The level of noise from bus loads of visitors was phenomenal. Of course the cost of everything was exploitative and seemed to contravene its attempts at ethical awareness. of any kind. There was little connection to the local area and we could have been anywhere .least of all a rainforest but .more like Disney without the fun!
Such a disappointment for you! There are some stunning gardens in Cornwall at a much more reasonable cost, unfortunately Eden is no longer one of them! Sarah :)
@@susanlamb7431 agree with the lengthy walk from/to carpark
Totally agree.awful place .
Concerning as having donated hydroponic equipment to this project 20yrs ago expected better maintenance of grounds...
Bindweed etc?
Solar powered and £40 entrance !
Untidy grounds reflect untidy management
This is not rocket surgery to fix
Rocket surgery? Saying ' it's not rocket science' is not rocket science. 😂
They got investors and privateers and council politician's to feed.
I worked at Eden for a few years and I can honestly say that it declined in that short period. Senior management was all over the place, and the decision making particularly on budget spend was very questionable. Not sure if things have improved since I left, but it would need a big shake up in the senior management team to facilitate improvement.
As another ex-staffer-that's a huge under-statement...😮😢
I live in Bristol and have mobility issues. You have just saved me time and money. I’d say your review was more than fair. 👌
When we last went there, about ten years ago there was no problem hiring a mobility scooter or wheel chair, but I wouldn't want to do that in the rain. Sadly it has become unaffordable to go there now.
We went last year and hubby is disabled. Parking was right by the entrance for the blue badges. Easy to get in and some easier paths for wheelchairs or people who can't walk so well. We are returning this year. Also if you have blue badge carer gets in either cheaper or free I can't remember now. Got the tickets online
Agreed! Even at half price. I would not be up for all that walking. Not keen on humidity and don't like coffee.
It was about 15 years since we visited the Eden Project. Totally wonderful experience. Very impressed with all of it. Probably wouldn’t return. Thankyou Sarah and Andrew for all your hard work that goes into your video’s. I love my armchair visits with you! 🥰🇬🇧
Great to hear! Sarah :)
13:50 “Deforestation etc etc”……they should show how Armada Way in Plymouth used to look and how it does today! 😂
Beamish outdoor museum worth coming to in county durham...and it course Alnwick garden in Northumberland.enjoyed this ..very natural but full of information.💜uk
I hope they inform the children that CO2 is the perfect plant food .
Yes, but too much increases the temperature. Don't you get that?
@@philware1546 Where? Mercury, Venus,Mars ? Death Valley USA had its highest temperature over 100 years ago that temperature has been equalled since but not beaten.CO2 is about 0.04%of the atmosphere up from 0.03% if it had dropped to 0.02% photosynthesis would have ended = death. We are two one hundredths of one percent above extinction level.Don,t you get that.Most CO2 in the atmosphere comes from natural sources and about sweet FA comes from the British Isles.
@@user-ku9yg8li9f i don't get your point. Both are bad.
@@user-ku9yg8li9f yes it is.
If you increase CO2 it raises global temperatures which releases methane from the melting permafrost, so it's not really a choice of one or the other.
Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 but doesn't last as long in the atmosphere.
We went for the first time about 18 months ago and found the experience overpriced and underwhelming. With the exception of the rainforest and Mediterranean domes, it felt tired, neglected and quite tatty. The food was just okay but very overpriced. One thing that particularly irked was that many of the guided activities were not operating because it was out of season. If I visit a seaside town or village out of season, I expect some shops and restaurants to be closed. Fair enough. But you're not paying an entrance fee to go to a town or village. If, as Eden does, you are charging people an entrance fee throughout the year, you should be providing the same experience throughout the year. We have no desire to return and don't recommend it to visitors either.
Well said, and it is now staring to let the County down, it should be so much better. Sarah :)
I think it looks like the rest Britain tired and worn-out and over priced when i visited last year and toured the cotswolds and South Midlands with my family i visited cirencester my home town what a dump it is just coffee shops and phone shops and charity shops the sports centre was closed so what does the kids have to do there these days we also visited Swindon it is just one big boarded up dead hole in the middle of massive housing estate im glad i left meny years ago and moved to denmark yes we have problems here but the councils do try to keep clean,.
Totally agree. Me and hubby were trying to find something open last night to eat. Unless you want junk food it was like a needle in a haystack. One pub admitted they ran out of food every Sunday by about four. So is buying more not an option? Even the drinking pubs were closed or closing and it was 7.30. The town centres everywhere are run down, dirty and not worth visiting. What a horrible country it has become.
Yes, a long weekend in the UK costs as much as a 2 week package holiday abroad!
@@user-nx8ii4ef7f I take it you have not been on a package tour for a few years.
I live on the outskirts of Swindon. The town used to be quite nice however, town centre is now a no go area sadly due to a number of reasons. Also developers are keen to chuck up multiple bland housing estates, yet no investment in the infrastructure of the town. Apart from the bus station of course! Cirencester is a nice place to visit and shop, that said I would move to Denmark in a heartbeat!
At least you left! It is disgusting people who run down a place yet continue to live there!
I live within a few miles of Eden, but have never been. Expensive prices and a rather unpleasant owner who has insulted the Cornish.
😂 You must be referring to the Seamus Carey interview!! At least he’s gone to Morecambe to insult them now! Sarah :)
He May be in morecambe, but he is still not wise.
@@John-gr5tx Ouch...
Bet he made a few quid eh 😢
Eden will soon have a lot in common with the original soon, just two people walking about with one person charging them the earth to do it.
we were on holiday in Cornwall last week, looked at visiting Eden project, as it seems an is type of place, but opted to have a day trip to Scilly Isles instead. that was well worth the £35 each return, even on a wet and gusty day saw lots of wildlife, including dolphins and fot a taster if Islands. We also did the Lands end coaster full route which was a great intro to area, We were staying near Kennanck sands and your videos inspired us to visit many of the local coves so thank you. (booked again for next year!)
Oh yes! That is a great way to spend a similar amount of money. One day we will make it over to the Scillies!! 😂 Sarah :)
From where did you go to the Scillies, please? I'm off to Cornwall on Wednesday. I'd love to go to Scilly for the day.
@@resurgem Transport links are Penzance helicopters , Lands End Skybus, or the Scillonian Ferry, if you're going for just the day trip I'd not bother with the Scillonian Ferry it takes too long to travel with barely a few hours to see the island/s. I'd advise you booking the first and last Skybus to St Mary's, and then getting the local ferry over to Tresco. Warning there is a lot of walking but wow Tresco is gorgeous, feels like a tropical Island.
@@davedree we took the ferry , both ways. yes is a long journey, but the journey is part of day out. went from Penzance.
Another great, informative and well presented video guys. Please keep up the fantastic work, which so many of us still really appreciate a lot.
Thank you! Sarah :)
£42? don't think so
I went to the Eden Project in the first year of opening. Much smaller complex then of course & would love to go back now ( we're only across the border in Devon) but charging £42 per adult with no family deals is madness & there is no way I will return based on those prices!
Hello Mark, I’m just across the border in Devon too. You have written my intended comment word for word 😮😢❤
I think another comment mentioned locals pass for Devon too, but I have not looked into that living in Cornwall but it might be worth a look! Sarah :)
You can get the locals pass, its available for all residents of Devon and Cornwall. We used to have it but have cancelled the renewal this year.
We go quite a few times a year to see the seasonal changes and ice skating over Christmas. We love it and the locals annual ticket.
If your ever in Lisbon walk up to the top end of the park Edwardo which is just past the huge roundabout on Avenue Liberation . There’s a huge tropical covered garden as large as the Eden project . Instead of a glass dome the roof is slated wood and the main forest area is larger than Eden forest. It’s been there since the Forties and is amazing. It cost 5 Euro to get in. Amazing it’s not mentioned in many guide books
Of
So much of Europe has it right where we just seem to screw every last penny out of everything! Sarah :)
It’s got to be heavily subsidised at that price
@@fanfeck2844that is what taxes are for!
@@CornishWalkingTrailsThat's what the south is about. 😂 Why London exists.
It’s really sad that things have come to this. I visited Eden about 15 years ago and enjoyed it but must admit I preferred Heligan. It think the whole weed situation is pretty common now in many public areas under the guise of being wildlife friendly but in reality it’s just about cost saving and lack of thought and care. The entrance fee is also crazy with no concessions! Certainly in no hurry to revisit now.
Wildlife friendly can still be beautiful, and charging an entrance fee implies design, thought, cultivation and care with a sense of pride. A dandelion that just happens to seed and germinate is none of those! Sarah :)
@@CornishWalkingTrails My garden has always been wildlife friendly, but I am not weed friendly there. When I first moved in I encouraged wild flowers but it was a big mistake and they were bullies. I gradually took most out and built up other plants. One year recently I had 12 different kinds of bee, which i was pretty proud of. They love the garden flowers I have chosen for them. I even have deer visiting they like the flowers as well and my vegetable growing days have had to stop.
No concessions? 'absolutely ridiculous'
we often visit Cornwall, we were at the Eden Project this June ,from last year this year was okish very tired looking and needs a make over and agree about the weeds, they were everywhere thanx for sharing x
It's cheaper to embrace the weeds.
New subscriber... can't believe I have never found your channel before. I have absolutely enjoyed the videos I have watched so far.
We, as a family went in August 2022 for the first time. First of all I envy the space you had when walking between the biomes, it was rediculously busy when we went. And second it is worth heeding your warning about the amount of walking, this place is BIG. Generally, I was impressed when we visited..everything manicured and sign-posted. The attention to detail- even in the external gardens. Plenty of staff but this was the summer holidays when staffing was at its max. Its a shame to hear standards have declined and losing that attention to detail is not lost on people at expensive venues. My advice if you have never been- go for it, the view from the entrance hall is so memerable and the biomes are rewarding if you enter to not just to experience an alien habitat but is an education.
Thank you for the video and the honest review. I haven't been there for years, I didn't realise it was so expensive now.
Glad it was helpful! Sarah :)
I remember the ‘Eden Project’ being constructed, it looked beautiful when it was completed, now it looks lifeless and as Andrew rightly said unkept, never worth the expensive prices, it’s a sign of the times I believe where everything is going down hill unfortunately, I think the highlight of your visit Sarah was the charming exotic courting couple of birds 🦅 I loved the Mediterranean Biome but noticed the lack of gardening staff in there as well, Interesting video, but a bit of a damp squid! you have taken us to many more beautiful gardens at less than half the price, thanks 🙏 for all the effort you put in to making the most enjoyable videos, Best wishes from Bernice in Derby’s 🥰🥀🤗
You're welcome! Eden was a bit of a let down! Let's hope it will improve before ot goes bust! Sarah :)
We've been recently and also noticed that some of the outdoor areas needed work, however lot's of areas have had a lot of money spent on them and have been updated, you missed them out of your video. The outdoor children's play area is absolutely fantastic! The food is fab and I love that you can see it all being made from scratch. It's definitely worth visiting and a place I will definitely be returning to again this year.
It's been about 10 years since we visited the Eden Project, and I'm a bit shocked and disappointed at what you reported, (Very honest and hart felt review) Well done Sarah and Andrew for another awakening for Eden Project management.. Cheers Bob
We sometimes wonder if management will ever see our videos and then come back down to reality with a laugh!!! Of course they wont’!!! Sarah 😂
@@CornishWalkingTrails😅😅 they'll loose some of their salary if they spent anymore money in Eden. They'll scarper when time is right for them, they only care about their money.
Wow . Thanks for the video. I’m definitely going to visit this place 👍👍👍
My wife and I went here about 3 years ago as part of our holiday in Cornwall. The gardens were in better order then. Dont remember the flower beds being that bad. We liked the place but for the admission price. We visited both domes and found them interesting. We also went on the zip line, which was great fun. As to whether we'd revisit the place, I honestly don't think we will.
Great content by you guys as usual.
We used to live locally and had a local pass when it was something like £10 for the whole year, so went on a regular basis and really enjoyed it. We now live a long way away but were lucky enough to go to on holiday to Cornwall in June. We thought about going to the Eden Project as we had lots of happy memories there, but were completely put off by the entry price, so didn't go. We would have been really disappointed had we done so - it's a real shame the quality has slipped and the experience isn't what it was. I hope it can find it's pioneering feet again. Thank you for the honest review. I enjoy all your videos as they are really balanced and informative.
Such a shame to see it going down hill like this! But the visionary has moved on to other projects! Sarah :)
A new subscriber, loved the honest review. A good innovation project - vertical planting of both plants and vegetables as this saves water and space 😮 xx
We were disappointed it was difficult to walk to for my husband and I’m claustrophobic and it wasn’t simple to walk around if you couldn’t go the normal route ( no one to help ) . Whilst some of the planting was exceptional it was sad to see some of the areas were unkept . On are way out seeing we were struggling one member of staff took it upon himself to help us and we will be truly grateful for that . I would never go back . Cornwall has beaches which we could access more easily and on our way to them you get to walk by peoples wonderful gardens and it’s free .
I have never been to The Eeden Project, but it was one of the main things that I have wanted to do. Not sure now though, but only because of the price and the lack of upkeep and loving care to the grounds. Perhaps the dreaded covid, combined with the poor economy has, as you say, caused a financial decline in income to pay staff. The price hike in entrance fee isn't the way forward now, but keep it affordable for the public, as they have their own financial difficulties as well. Keep people coming and time will improve things as the economy recovers.
I really hope that time will make the economy recover, and that the Eden Project thrives to become more affordable so that I can visit with joyous pleasure.
As a footnote, my son visited Eden about 24 years ago, and I'm going to forward this film to him and see what his response is. Really enjoy watching you guys, so thank you so much for your hard that's brilliantly presented, THANK YOU ❤️💛❤️🙌😎
Since they opened they take on employees, lay them off, take them on, lay them off now they use 16 year olds so they don't have to pay as much, they really don't seem to be brilliant employers.v
Looks like the truth is it comes down to hard nosed economics. What may have been fit for purpose a decade or so ago and may have turned a profit, seems now to be making a loss and is no longer sustainable in the way people seem to expect. I've been there a number of times and we're driving down to Cornwall for 6 days in the next week or so and I'd been advocating that we visit, but having watched this it looks like we're priced out of being potential patrons. The food is always an issue, but that's the case everywhere and taking your own is the solution to that aspect. 'Preachy' yeah I think you have to do that, if it's your area of interest and you know that stuff that's fine surely, but the people that seem to drift through life not considering any such things might need it to be presented to them in that type of format? Besides, capitalism has peaked and can no longer function in the way that it has, the worlds resources are being impacted by things generally well out of our control and a new world order is shaping up. Things like a trip to the Eden project in the next few decades will memories of a distant world that will no longer exist by my reckoning. The Eden project is just one tiny indicator of the massive decline that lays ahead of us.
You're welcome! Sarah :)
Good morning to you both. I went to Eden in the early 2000 s I thought it was lovely but even then it needed a bit more care in the surrounding grounds. The food was not great, I think these places are all about profit and they for get what it’s really supposed to be about,which is about helping nature.
I would not go back,it’s to expensive. Thanks for taking us around and showing us what it’s like now.😊
You're welcome! Sarah :)
Letting ‘weeds’ grow is helping nature.
@@davecooper3238 I think your so right as we know weeds are just plants that we don’t like but there our native plants and lots off bugs feed on them. We’re just to fussy in this world and only want things that are perfect, stupid humans.
I wonder if it will one day end up an amazing ruin full of urban explorers and ghost hunters and old people will have their memories of long ago childhood visits.
Maybe, but the ghost hunters will be disappointed as there is no such thing as ghosts.
. . . and how they were ripped off . . . 👻
A very fair review. I would be very disappointed to have the smell of the flowers overwhelmed by that of pizza. The price of the food was eye watering.
A honest review on Eden - it does look tired and unkept & this surprised me as I haven’t been there for many years. Would I pay £84 for 2 of us to enter? the answer is NO. It was exciting when it was being built and for the first years but somehow the ‘shine’ has faded - from a resident and a local from Cornwall.
From one local to another, I just wish they would take their responsibility to the visitor seriously! Sarah :)
Andrew and Sarah, great video, and I agree with everything you say . What a shame , and why on earth has it been allowed to get that bad… the price is shocking , and very expensive if it’s a family. This will stop people going . And I am sure there must be many many complaints. ..love your videos … ❤ I love Cornwall and have a few friends down there who I go to see, and I must say I have noticed it’s gone down over the years. But I still love the peace …. For me I look forward to that.
Unfortunately Cornwall has almost become a victim of its own success and where people sniff a chance to make money they will move to make to it happen! Not the Cornwall I remember as a child - we used to be the only family on Gwithian beach in the summer! Sarah :)
We visited over 10 years ago. My wife actually said she found it preachy. We loved the walk up the tall biodome. There was an air conditioned room you could sit in that we took advantage of.We queued for a long time to get in. Someone wanted to buy a pass for something and instead of having a separate area we had to wait for them. It took ages we were not impressed. Overall we would not go back. The food was all brackets healthy and expensive. Definitely a one off. The entry price now is too high.
We went many years ago, thought about it this year but glad we didn’t go. You’re right it looks tired and there seems to be a heavy leaning towards commercialism. Now we know about the discounts available we’ll think about going again - but come on Eden sort things out, even ask for volunteers - please!
Thumbs up awesome job 👍 shared out in you tube community. ⌚
Thank you so much! Sarah :)
No problem more than welcome 😊
Thank you for an honest review. We will return and give our feedback in just over a week's time!
Thanks (as ever) for this. We were planning to drop in next week but the cost is now absurd, before getting to the poor state of the place. Seems post covid many (most?) attractions are milking visitors and it’s finally time to say ‘enough’. So sad!
There is no way we would pay £42 each.
In fairness it does give you entry again in the year…
@jacquelinearcher1158 But if you are on holiday it's not likely you're going back to visit within a year, and surely if you've seen it once you've seen it, especially as they are understaffed and many of the tours are called off.
These prices are like Chessington world of adventures and Thorpe park, but look how much they have to take care of and maintain.
Ooh. I hope they do some weeding before we get there from Australia in September. We’ll be on a Trafalgar tour when we visit the Eden Project. Perhaps some Horticultural Students or Garden Clubs could volunteer to do some weeding and the Eden Project could reward them with entry and lunch for that day? Thanks for visiting. You are great ambassadors for your county. Cheryl and Mark
There are plenty of fabulous gardens in Cornwall, granted without the fantastic biomes but I would keep an eye on the Trip Advisor reviews because sadly they seem to be right in this case. Going to the Isles of Scilly costs £35 each and would be far better value for money! Sarah :)
Those weeds are native British plants!
Great review and great to see you two again on UA-cam, objective, informative and entertaining. We went to the Eden Project in the year it first opened, it was still in development then. My last visit was about ten years ago and we got in on a locals discount as we had relocated to the South West by then. We have been at Christmas time and they had a skating rink, my wife and daughter went skating.
I have always been impressed by the gardens full of colour in the summer, is the giant bee still there? I agree, the bio domes have always impressed us and are most enjoyable, especially the rainforest. In the temperate dome I remember sat in the Mediterranean cafe and it did make me think of holidays in the med.
How could they improve? As you said, ask for local volunteers is one way. I feel they could run courses in biodiversity and ways to combat environmental issues. How about approaching Cornwall college to get involved or any other college or university nationally? Young students could live nearby working and studding at the same time gaining a qualification at the end. It just needs someone with drive to set it up and could be a great experience. Especially for disaffected youngsters.
We have been thinking of going back to Eden for some time but will be rethinking our position on this now.
Looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for your comment and we post a video nearly every week so may need to turn on your notifications?
Eden is expensive these days and a bit disappointing! Sarah :)
They should be doing this already, aren't they mean't to be an educational charity?
It does take staff and organisation to implement though.
@@Jennyandersonjenny I’m sure there is some kind of educational funding they could draw down or go into partnership with a college.
My son and family are going to Cornwall the end of this month will make sure they see your video before they go as I'm sure this would be on their bucket list...
Such a crying shame......Shame on the management (or mismanagement ) of this once magical place.
Thank you for your video as this venue deserves your Reasonable observations.
Thanks for sharing this useful update. I'm sad to see that it is now in clear decline... I travelled hundreds of miles in September 2020 to visit this place, which was my brother's dream to see, but knew he won't be able to. So I spent almost 3 days at the Eden Project trying to film as much as possible to show it to him. He was delighted to see it though my eyes (filmed a series about it) and I know I brought him much happiness and useful info (he used to write nature articles) he could use. I noticed then bits and bobs that needed addressing, but thought these will be sorted. Now, I see that it just got worse. Prices even then, were very high, especially in the cafes/restaurants. I had no access to other food/drink for 3 days as I had no car and was walking everyday to and from the shipping container accommodations, which were advertised to have shuttle bus service to the EP, but they didn't. Altogether it was a wonderful experience and I chose to block out from my memory the bits that weren't.
I remember it being well kept and a great place , Peter foeday would be sad to see the demise of his involvement in Eden , sadly passed now , I had the pleasure of working with him at Compton acres years ago , it wouldn’t surprise me if it closed in the near future , 😔
Yeah, I kind of got that feeling. Once the biomes start to fail, what happens then? Sarah :)
Highly recommend your review checks out the Workers reviews too, makes for unhappy reading. Such a shame the venue reflects how the staff feel. Xx Eden need to start at the roots completely and show the staff love and it will grow again ❤
They do not treat staff well, never have and now they take 16 year olds on so they can pay tiny wages! Awful!
That is so sad if they are! We saw a lot of youngsters. Sarah :)
I love all your ‘Honest Reviews’, the pair of you make it such an enjoyable watch. Well done and please keep it up! Unlike the BBC we know that everything you say is honest and true! So sad to see the Eden Project in need of so much TLC!
Thank you! We have actually stopped watching our local BBC program, Spotlight, because it's become so dumbed down and the journalism seems to have disappeared and become another magazine slot show. Not quite sure what their role is anymore. Sarah :)
@@CornishWalkingTrails Journalism? BBC? Wash your mouth out! ;-)
We haven't visited the Eden Project. Thank you for doing this video, we found it very interesting. You bring up some very good points, as always.
Glad you enjoyed it! Sarah :)
Thank you for sharing your visit. If the lack of fund causing the place to look as it is, I’m just wondering can it possibly be done if the army of volunteers could help with all sort of things like the maintenance, getting rid of weeds, tidying up the areas and etc. Perhaps employs a very good project manager to oversee the operation.
My daughter & family went in May this year. Thank goodness for Tesco CC vouchers! They've been before & wanted to go to Heligan this time, but weather was so bad they decided to go back to Eden! They won't be returning though for all the reasons you have mentioned & watching your video I can see why. How sad. Locally we have Lavender Fields to see with no charge at all (although you can pay for a guided walk through them). Beautiful colourful rows of purple, divine smell, lovely coffee & pretty shop with all sorts, including locally picked strawberries🍓 ....& not a weed in sight! x J x
Sounds like an honestly run, family business with a passion for what they do! Sarah :)
My husband and I have visited twice now. We went in May and we were disappointed. Lots of areas needing replanting needed. The entrance fee too expensive. Don’t think we will go again.
I love gardens and had always wanted to visit, but my recent trip was a huge disappointment. The entrance fee is unjustifiable for the lack of planting and poor upkeep of the site; the quantity of food stalls for such a small area made it clear that money is their only motivation now. The domes contain some gorgeous plants but the paths were blocked with too many people, and it was impossible to enjoy the atmosphere. I spent 7 hours on the road that day, sad to say I will not be returning. I think your video was great, and you were honest. If the Eden Project is to rebuild itself, it better start soon or it will end in terminal decline. How about asking for 1/2 day weeding in exchange for an entrance fee?!
So sad to hear it looking sad and tired. We came a good few years ago and it was far better than what I have just seen in your video. Just as a side, the bird sounds in the biosphere ps was lovely to hear.
We enjoyed the bird song! We noticed that they are our native species flying through the open vents! Beautiful to see! Sarah :)
Always wanted to go but now, not sure the lengthy journey is worth it! Thank you for sharing😊
Visited recently and totally agree with your comments in the video. We used Tesco Club card vouchers, didn't believe that we could return free of charge this year.
Best thing to do is turn it into an agricultural site growing goods for locals that traditionally would be grow abroad. Therefore eliminating produce transport costs for the Cornish. Much better than drawing hords of emits down here, give a bit back to locals instead. Tourism has got too big for cornwall!
Thankyou for the tour,I really enjoyed seeing it all.I am from NZ,and would love to see it in person.Love seeing your travels. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it! Sarah :)
Always great videos....yes expensive but people probably don't think about the running costs of keeping the biospheres at the correct temperatures 24/7. Never saw a gardener no? but probably needs 50 or more to keep everything tidy. Looking forward to seeing a pasty though! 😔🤣
They sank a borehole as a heat source a few years ago to provide the heat for the biomes - not sure if it was funded for them! Sarah :)
the problem with all these attractions is the cost of upkeep has outstripped its income
More importantly .What about the fantastic domes ?That I’d the focus surely .Not worrying about dandelions .Which by the way are a vital plant for nectar in spring
I visited Eden years ago when it had only been open a few years, I loved it and i bought a book about the project, in it they said they were hoping to open a third dome, that has not happened, i think now that the other domes have matured a third dome to re ignite interest would be a really good thing. I Would like to go again and see it now everything has matured especially the med dome as it was tiny plants when i last went, i do not think they should have a pizza place in there though, why not have it nearby but outside. A very interesting video, thanks for bringing it to us.
I love your necklace btw
deffo giving it a miss thank you for doing this review and saving me money
You’re welcome! Sarah :)
We went 2 years ago and we were very disappointed It’s very expensive and the information and exhibits are quite patronising unless you’re on a primary school trip.
Can definitely have that feel. In complete contrast the Core display at the moment is like a degree level microbiology lesson, hence we didn’t show it! Sarah :)
£42 pp is absolutely batshit insane.
We think you're spot on with your comments. It has to be said that this place is awesome when everything is looked after.
The neglect to the outside is beyond comprehension. The saying goes... that you get an idea what's to come on approach, if it's poor then beware!
Get the approach right. People will be glad to pay the price ,spread the word, and come back again.
It's a no-brainer.
Is the zip wire still there?
We do love Eden, too.
Jan and jeff Cross
Many thanks. I have been considering a trip down from London, to stay in Cornwall and visit the Eden Project with my family. Was always fascinated by it, and maybe I should have gone there at the start. But fortunately the multiple reviews, your video and the comments here have decided me against it. Money well saved!
Such a shame
I lived in Mount Charles St Austell for 11 years and saw the Eden Centre come together.
We visited often as the children loved it.
Although we only ate there once.
Purely on the grounds that as a family it was just too expensive.
Fine for the emmets
It was an amazing experience going for the first time.
It was very expensive then and caused locals to be divided.
But Kew Gardens it never was.
I guess like any other business trying to recover from the pandemic.
Perhaps the local magistrates could pass out 30 days ‘weeding’ or 30 days in jail.
Sad to see any garden (especially the front) fall into a tangled jungle.
Thank you for your review
We went 19 years ago. Our kids were young, we were on a budget, £25 each for an adult wasnt happening. I didn't even check the kids price, I just figured it was priced for Londoners who get triple what us 'lesser mortals' do. There were even these hippy longhair guys in the car park directing parking, patronisingly telling us it was 'excellent value for money''. I wasn't big on bargain hunting online at the time and didnt have a smartphone, we were so disappointed by the entry price we left. Looking back though, we went to lots of other attractions, and nowhere else in Cornwall was anywhere near that expensive.
I live locally and used to go regularly with my local's pass.
I stopped going when they insisted you go on line to find out whether you're allowed to visit at the time you want to.
I like to get up and decide what I'm going to do.
There were never any problems as far as I'm aware before you had to book. They'd operated that way since it opened.
That was only put in place because of COVID, you do not need to do that anymore.
@@jennywrenslife Interesting. That's not what it says on their website, but I wondered if it might be the case .
@@NeilBarratt we go about 4 times a year and don't book ahead.
“The difference between weeds and flowers is perception”.....having said that I could save myself some dosh and look at the dandelions in my garden instead 😀
Thing is some weeds mean life for many insects maybe have a designated area for weeds
I thought the same that the weeds are being allowed to grow for the insects and birds.
I’m a local and the last time I went I thought it was tired and quite frankly grubby. They need to do better.
Have never been, but would have liked to have gone, so my comments are based on your excellent videos over the years. Initially my reluctance was due to the fact it is not dog friendly but now it has to be the cost. Your closing comments I feel were spot on, in that the biomes are remarkable, but the outdoors were really in need of some TLC. Perhaps any investment is being diverted to the proposed Eden North at Morecambe. Just a thought. Thanks for being so honest as you clearly love the place.
I would love to know if the place is even commercially viable! Our Council has been known to provide more money, I hope Morecambe is prepared. Sarah :)
Great video. What a shame that such a beautiful, well designed treasure has fallen into disrepair. Hope they can figure it out before it’s too late. Though not as famous as the Eden Project, we have biodomes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I hope so too! Sarah :)
Thanks for the review, we went 2 years ago, underwhelming experience, apart from the biomes nothing to see.
(2 Adults in 60s) 😮😮
Unfortunately little has changed, Sarah :)
i was super excited to visit this someday but this made me change my mind tbh, what a bummer
Also cost of living but people from a long way away or abroad they wouldn’t know how it’s like . The food omg £7 odd for a scone . Yea that’s a thing in most big attractions but it’s a rip off and the sandwiches and snacks pretty much mass produced . I don’t know about here but still would not pay.
We had national trust and English heritage memberships when I was kid it worked out cheaper as it was my parents and me and 3 siblings and my parents made a picnic and put in massive cool bags with ice packs with bottles of lemonade !
I still intend to visit, however I do understand the criticism. I live in East Anglia and the last few years have been tough on the leisure industry in general.
This is interesting in light of the Eden north development being seen as the great hope for regeneration of Morecambe.
Visited in 2007 felt expensive then and even though there is the return within a year thing we didn't like it enough to return. I do however remember having a delicious Cornish pasty and nice lemonade. Watching this vlog certainly won't encourage me to return anytime soon. Thanks for a very honest and balanced review.
I enjoyed it loved the rainforest , we walked in straightaway your can use your ticket for the whole year since April ive been twice going again to Cornwall mid july so i guess i got my money's worth 😂 I'm not luckily enough to have a garden I live in a 2nd floor flat, so any greenery to me is beautiful even weeds 😂
Regarding the weedy greens sticking out everywhere, we've had nothing but rain rain rain since December. My own garden looks like a sheep gone feral and that's me looking after it.
But if someone paid you £42 everytime they visited, 'you'd hire a gardener, right?'
@@Jennyandersonjenny I'm guessing they just have the same number of staff and haven't compensated for it.
There are some businesses that don't use reviews as an opportunity to serve customers better. This is clearly one such business.
I think that was a fair review, from two individuals who actually want to love Eden Project.
I cant remember if I have been once or twice....a long while ago anyway, and not something I long to return to.
Clever idea, but even way back it was very 'preachy', which guarantees my lack of enthusiasm.
Expensive too. These types of attractions usually are.
I think Cornwall (and probably most tourist areas) are suffering from a staff shortage, which may have a lot do do with the state of the place....some friends of mine tell me Heligan is also looking unkempt, or unloved.
We have not been to Heligan this year. After visiting for the past couple of years, we thought we would give it a miss, partly because our local's pass did not cover the Christmas event that we still had to pay for, Sarah :)
As we live in Holmbush, Eden is only 10mins away in the van...and having the locals pass is ideal...it is very expensive...mind you for two of us over at Port Issac ice cream X2 cost us £10 ..As you mentioned the biomes are Great...but the outside is looking tired..in previous year's weve had glorious flower displays....but as the signs indicated under development..we thought ah maybe on our next visit, something to view...may pop up tomorrow for a look and a Roskillys ice-cream X2...😂
I was involved in the installation and maintenance of the dehumidified pressurisation system for the Biome roof pillows. In the early days it was assumed that these would only last around 25 years so I suspect that a major investment in repairing/replacing these pillows may have already started therefore cuts in other services may be having to be made to cover these additional costs.
When we were researching for the video, we came across an article going back about 10 years saying this could be a problem, but surely any good budgeting should have factored that it?!? Sarah :)
Hi Sarah, yes I agree, my fellow Director went to a meeting with them about ten years ago with regards to the long term maintenance of our equipment and their future plans to keep them running efficiently. With the machines being located in boxes outside we found that they required double the amount of maintenance compared to our units that are situated in nice dry plant rooms at pharma and confectionary companies. Energy costs of course have risen considerably although they do have the Geo Thermal system for the Biomes now, I assume that is up and running and reducing their energy costs to a degree?
I'm mortified.. the price is crazy!! Go to penzance.. walk along the sea front.. take a tennis racket and ball.. visit the subtropical plants and Morab gardens.. look at the ponds, fish and the beauty.. when you've visited there, walk 5 minutes up the road to penlee park, where there's a museum and tennis. It's free * except some museum exhibits.
I saw your headline and thought of here we go another video from people slating another Cornish attraction that's not going to help Cornwall. But stuck with it. But loved your review of the place . Like you I've loved Eden, but didn't pay full price because we got in on the 2 for 1 tickets with GW. My aunt and uncle went last year and was really disappointed too. Didn't think much to the silly sculptures everywhere ,food awful. I found it hard to believe . But think you've covered it all in this video. When we last went we never saw any weeds especially the veg area and it was a fantastic veg plot . God not now. What was your overall impression, would you go back ? May be not at £42 a head . The rainforest biome still looks impressive to me but is it worth that price ?
Great Video thanks for sharing . 👍😎